I had, however, very little hope of escape.

I knew that a hot pursuit would be made after me, and what I most dreaded was, that the overseer would procure Crop's bloodhounds to follow my track.

If only the hounds of our plantation were sent after me, I had hopes of being able to make friends of them, as they were always good-natured and obedient to me.

I travelled until, as near as I could judge, about ten o'clock, when a distant sound startled me.

I stopped and listened.